Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil al-Arabi told Al-Jazeera that within seven to 10 days, steps will be taken in order to open the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on a permanent basis.
The announcement indicates a significant change in the policy on Gaza. The opening of Rafah will allow the flow of people, goods and persumably, Iranian weapons in and out of Gaza without Israeli supervision.
It is not a coincidence that a convoy and march on Gaza is being coordinated for May 11- 19, to take advantage of this opportunity.
From the ISM announcement:
The International Solidarity Movement is appealing for activists to
join our team in the besieged Gaza Strip. We are hoping that this
coming month's Freedom Flotilla along with the Italian Stay Human
convoy will bring an influx of activists into Gaza who will help carry
on the important work that Vittorio Arrigoni was an essential part of
before his death.
...ISM Gaza was reinstated in August 2008 when
ISM and other volunteers traveled aboard the historic, siege-breaking
voyage of the first FreeGaza Movement boat. ISM has maintained a
constant presence in Gaza since that time...
The convoy will last six/seven days in order to give the
possibility to participate for as many people as possible.
- It will take place between the 11th and 19th May. The exact dates
will be agreed in few days with the people in Gaza that will host us.
So, lets start to get ready!
Cosidering that they often characterize Gaza as an open air prison, its interesting that foreign nationals seem to have no trouble getting in.
oh brother! get a load of this BBC News quote:
ReplyDelete"Vittorio Arrigoni was seized by Salafist radicals, an Islamist movement itself that considers Hamas as too moderate, BBC Gaza correspondent Jon Donnison says.
Two members of an al-Qaeda inspired Salafist group have been arrested. Salafists practise an ultra-conservative form of Islam and regard Hamas as too moderate.
Many will be watching to see whether Hamas responds with violence. In 2009, Hamas killed over 25 Salafists after one group challenged its leadership."
well let's hope they kill each other and as to this Vittorio Arrigoni guy, this is what happens when you lay down with wolves. i'd like to think that leftist idiots everywhere will come to understand they to will share Arrigoni's fate someday day if the keep coddling terrorists but that would be unrealistic of me i think.